We are thrilled to announce that after experiencing financial uncertainty during the pandemic and after significant city funding cuts, City Fruit has now stabilized and moved into a position of growth, thanks to the generous contributions of our community partners and local foundations! We are so fortunate to have the investment and belief in our work from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, School’s Out Washington, and the BECU Foundation.
As recipients of a 3-year grant award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we are now able to expand our Education and Outreach Program. We are so excited to welcome our previous intern from Antioch University, Tiare Gill, into a new full-time position as our Education and Volunteer Programs Manager! We now have the capacity to expand our educational programs, and strengthen our relationships with community partners. As our Education and Outreach Program grows, we are striving to diversify the populations we engage and serve.
Our Education and Outreach Program is also expanding as a result of the support we received from School’s Out Washington, a local organization dedicated to increasing educational opportunities for youth. School’s Out Washington awarded City Fruit funding to implement a new educational youth summer program centered on environmental science. Support from School’s Out Washington will fund our new Urban Fruit Guardians program for youth in grades 3-5. The Urban Fruit Guardians program will take place in Seattle’s public orchards and be led by our Community Engagement and Education Intern, Spencer Christian. You can learn more about our new Urban Fruit Guardians program here [https://www.cityfruit.org/urban-fruit-guardians-ufg/].
Additionally, we are excited to announce we were selected as recipients of the BECU People Helping People Award in partnership with the Seattle non-profit, Young Women Empowered (Y-WE). We received funding to expand our collaborative efforts with Y-WE and work together to implement educational programs for youth centered on environmental stewardship and food justice. We are currently working together to develop curriculum, and will launch educational opportunities this summer.
As a result of the generous funding from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, School’s Out Washington, and BECU, we are able to expand our efforts to increase community knowledge and stewardship of Seattle’s fruit trees and our local food system, offering more volunteer events, workshops, and educational opportunities for the Seattle community!